Contemporary Circumscription Compared with A Utah Flora 4th ed.
Bio430
Oleaceae
No differences. Utah only has a couple of native genera, but several others are so widely planted that they are included in the flora.
Key Features
Opposite leaves (simple or pinnate compound) four merous perianth with both the sepals and petals fused (calyx and corolla, respectively), commonly two stamens, and a superior ovary of 2 fused carpels. Occasionally there are 4 stamens.
Fraxinus (Ash) branch with maturing fruits
Fraxinus (Ash) samaras
Syringa (Lilac)
Korean Lilic just starting to bloom; opposite leaves apparent.
Lilac - look closely and you can tell there are just two anthers, each with two pollen sacs
Lilac capsules
Lilac capsule; scar around base from perianth whorls (superior ovary)
Forsythia
Forsythia
Forsythia
Section through Forsythia flower, showing just two anthers, superior ovary
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